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Al Harrington Regrets Leaving Pacers

I don't think he would've been a Pacer the whole time anyway, but who knows with that 04/05 team if the brawl gets as crazy as it does w/out Jackson on team.

I hate reflecting back on those past Pacer teams anyway, but it's always funny to see how many players regret leaving Indiana.

"It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."

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Re: Al Harrington Regrets Leaving Pacers

Who cares about Baby Al.

Just glad to be getting a "franchise that does everything the right way" rep again. Remember the sterling reputation we had before we went for it and then the brawl happened? People underestimate it but players talk, that stuff goes a LONG way. They want strong, stable work environments just like Joe Public.

Re: Al Harrington Regrets Leaving Pacers

I don't really agree with that. Guys realize it as they get older. Smits is still here, I think McKey is, Artest still has family that lives here, ZBo's still around, Al's mom still lives here, PG seems pretty happy on Geist, there's a lot of examples. Indy's obviously not glitzy and glamorous and all that, but it is a strong place to raise a family and live as close to a normal life as you can as a pro athlete.

There're definite benefits to the Indiana lifestyle for big time public figures like pro athletes. No, it's not for all of em, but when you combine it was an intensely strong work environment it's a really attractive option.

Re: Al Harrington Regrets Leaving Pacers

Al's had a strange career. He started his career as a defensive stopper, tore his ACL, then became a post-up small forward in a league that didn't yet care about the concept of a "stretch 4". He had a couple of really good seasons later in life for up-tempo teams as their Power Forward. If 19 year old Al Harrington came into the league this year, he would be a top 3 pick and would immediately be a huge asset for someone looking to run and stretch the floor. Instead of working on posting up small forwards, Harrington would have immediately realized his destiny of shooting 3s to space the floor for the pick and roll and post-ups. I strongly believe that given different circumstances, Al Harrington could have been just as successful in the league as Shawn Marion. But that was never going to happen here with our personnel. I think this article is just wistful thinking, as you can't blame someone who is looking at a decade of coming off the bench, making bench salary, to request a chance to start and get paid like a starter somewhere else. The "old man" part of this is where you wish you hadn't done something that almost anyone would have done in that situation. If you had phrased the question as, "Would you give back $10 million to have had your career start and end with the Pacers?", I think the answer would have been different.